Alright let's start from the top, or well, at least at the No. 11 spot in the country - with wide receiver offer, and last weekend's only first-time visitor
Emeka Egbuka.
On Sunday and Monday there was near unanimous verdicts from both sides.
Oklahoma had made a big run and sources in Norman thought it was going to be the Sooners.
Oklahoma had made a big run and sources in Columbus were concerned for the first time in months. 5
Fast forward to Tuesday night and while I won't say that Columbus is 'confident', they definitely seem to feel the waters have settled and that they've cooled the momentum of Oklahoma's visit weekend.
In talking to some sources in Norman it was the first time since the visit that there wasn't steadfast confidence in Oklahoma's chances. There was definitely some walking back of things I'd heard over the previous 48 hours though with things like 'I thought it was a slam dunk', etc.
My best guess? No one knows. I've not heard anything that makes me definitely feel Oklahoma is lost but I'm going to keep checking around today because it does feel like, for the first time since Friday, that the momentum is heading in the wrong direction. But that said, there are plenty of conversations that will happen between now and Friday and I'd guess Egbuka is still mulling things over because the one thing I'm confident of at this point is that it's close. Even long-time Ohio State sources who've been confident for over a year on Egbuka admit 'this is closer than I ever thought it would be'.
But the reality is Egbuka doesn't talk much, if at all, so it's hard for anyone to
know what is happening.
Just stick with us, this will be a roller coaster and while I'll admit, if I'm picking right now I'd probably go with Ohio State, I've not heard anything definite enough to make me flip my forecast because I truly do think it's still up in the air.
**I've talked to multiple sources over the last week about Garland (Texas) Lakeview Centennial five-star running back
Camar Wheaton and to a man they all concede 'we don't know for sure what he'll do' but just as consistently I hear 'Oklahoma is what I believe will happen'. If we accept that Egbuka is tight lipped then Wheaton literally may not have the ability to speak - it's that hard to read his situation as he just doesn't seem to talk to anyone.
But whether it's sources at various schools or those around Lakeview, there's just too many signs pointing to Oklahoma right now for me to bet anywhere else.
***Earlier this week I put in a forecast for 2022 St. Louis (Mo.) John Burroughs School
Rivals100 defensive end
Tyson Ford. And while I know it wasn't the forecast that got everyone talking I'd say that with Notre Dame pushing hard for Ford this is a potentially big win for the Sooners.
What is also interesting is what it may mean.
I'd told you all when I went to visit Ford I wasn't sure Oklahoma could take all the quality defensive linemen they are currently at the head of the pack for but I think a decision has been made that, within reason, you take all the talented big bodies you can get your hands on. This is particularly true with some of Oklahoma's current defensive linemen looking like guys that won't be simply 'waiting to graduate' before heading onto their careers - a reality that hasn't existed in the past decade.
If Oklahoma can land Ford,
Gabe Dindy (who they lead for by a wide margin), and
Keithian Alexander they'll find a way to make those numbers work.
And in the case of Ford, 'he's getting close' is what one source told me and matches what Ford himself told me when I was at his school just over a month ago.
